Two arrested when shots fired

Two Canonsburg men were back behind bars Thursday morning, hours after being released from the Washington County jail, on firearms charges filed by Washington police.

Keith Rosario, 22, and Zaie Escribano, 32, who both gave an address of 200 Bernstein Ave., are accused of having a .38-caliber handgun when taken into custody after shots were reportedly fired behind buildings in the 10 block of North Main Street.

When police Officer Joseph Fichter arrived, he saw a silver, 2001 Pontiac Bonneville flee the area in the direction of East Chestnut Street. The driver, later identified as Tekesha David, 30, of 441 Grove St., Washington, reportedly drove around a city police cruiser that had emergency lights activated. The car continued east on East Chestnut before stopping. The gun was found under a passenger seat near where the men had been sitting. She told police she did not know there was a weapon.

Paul Johnson, 32, of 925 W. Chestnut St., Washington, arrived and started yelling. When he refused to leave, police charged him with disorderly conduct. David’s mother, Rhonda David, of 31 North Ave., Washington, arrived and started yelling. She also faces a charge of disorderly conduct.

Police later determined the shots were fired in the area of Shaffer and Pine avenues, near where the pair had been picked up by Tekesha David. Police found five spent casings.

Rosario told police they were having problems with some people from Washington who threatened to shoot them. Police said Rosario indicated he fired the shots as a warning that they “weren’t playing.”

On Wednesday, Canonsburg police withdrew drug charges against the two men after Paradise Wilson indicated the cocaine and heroin found in a car occupied by the two men belonged to her. She was ordered held for court on drug charges by District Judge David Mark.

Rosario and Escribano were arraigned on the firearms charge before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in the jail on $50,000 bond.

Tekesha David will be charged with driving with a suspended license and failure to yield to an approaching emergency vehicle.